Stenting below-the-knee bifurcations with dedicated bifurcation stent BiOSS Lim - first in man case report

Feasibility of the Complete Endovascular Reconstruction of the Trifurcation (CERT) Technique for Revascularisation in Chronic Limb Threatening Ischemia

BackgroundRevascularisation of patients with chronic limb threatening ischaemia due to arterial lesions in the below the knee segment can be challenging. This study describes a novel technique that allows a complete endovascular reconstruction of the trifurcation (CERT) utilising stents in the below the knee segment when conventional techniques are exhausted, or have failed to deliver an acceptable result, leading to remaining outflow compromise. Methods: Eight patients with Rutherford 5 chronic limb threatening ischaemia underwent CERT between January 1st, 2018 and January 1st, 2020. All patients underwent ultrasound at 6 weeks post operatively and then at variable intervals until the completion of the follow up period in March 2020. Results: Technical success of the CERT technique was achieved in all patients. Six patients had anterior tibial artery/Tibioperoneal trunk reconstructions, whilst 2 patients were stented directly into posterior tibial and peroneal artery. Five patients (63%) achieved wound healing. All-cause mortality was 25% (2 patients) with 1 patient achieving wound healing prior to death. Two stents were occluded during the follow up period. The first was asymptomatic and had achieved wound healing. The second was symptomatic with stent occlusion and a delayed presentation with Rutherford 3 acute limb ischaemia. Conclusions: Complete endovascular reconstruction of the trifurcation is a feasible option to achieve revascularisation in patients with tissue loss and below the knee arterial lesions allowing a continuous reconstruction of the trifurcation segment keeping the anatomical configuration intact. Clinical outcomes appear acceptable however larger series are needed.

Kissing Balloon Technique for Infrapopliteal Angioplasty in Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to analyze the technical aspects and follow-up findings regarding patients with critical limb ischemia who underwent the kissing balloon technique (KBT).

METHODS

Thirty patients (34 bifurcations) were enrolled in this retrospective analysis between September 2010 and February 2017. All patients were submitted to infrapopliteal intervention for critical limb ischemia. The KBT is the primary treatment in 3 situations: for cases with >70% stenosis of the main artery located less than 1 cm of the bifurcation, occlusion of one branch with greater than 50% stenosis of the contralateral branch, or greater than 50% bilateral stenosis. Stents were considered in cases of recoil greater than 30% or flow-limiting recoil and were used in 7 of the 34 bifurcations (20.5%).

RESULTS

Primary patency at 30 days, 1 year, and 2 years was 100%, 68.1%, and 68.1, respectively. Limb salvage rates at 30 days, 1 year, and 2 years were 100%, 86.6%, and 65.0%, respectively. Wound healing rates at 30 days, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years were 7.1%, 34.4%, 44.5%, and 68.7%, respectively. The bifurcations of the V-shape and T-shape groups were compared in terms of wound healing, primary patency, and limb salvage. No differences were observed in wound healing (P = 0.268), primary patency (P = 0.394), and limb salvage (P = 0.755).

CONCLUSIONS

The KBT is a feasible bifurcation approach for infrapopliteal angioplasties to maintain the patency of both branches after ballooning. The comparison between the anterior tibial artery and tibioperoneal trunk bifurcation and the peroneal artery and posterior tibial artery bifurcation revealed no difference in wound healing, primary patency, and limb salvage.

Techniques for Infrapopliteal Arterial Bifurcation Stenting

BACKGROUND

Endovascular treatment of infrapopliteal peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is an established and effective treatment strategy for patients with symptomatic PAD. Increasingly, complex infrapopliteal lesions are treated with an endovascular first approach, especially in the setting of critical limb ischemia (CLI) for limb salvage, avoiding major amputations which impact on mobility and quality of life. However, many complex infrapopliteal lesions involving the bifurcation of the tibial arteries remain challenging to treat because of recoil or acute dissection after angioplasty and may require stenting using specialized techniques.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We illustrated techniques for infrapopliteal arterial bifurcation stenting using case-based examples. The techniques covered include the single-stent, culottes, kissing, crush, and T-stenting techniques, and each is considered based on individual strengths and limitations.

CONCLUSIONS

Infrapopliteal bifurcation stenting allows complex bifurcation lesions to be treated effectively when flow-limiting complications are encountered after angioplasty.

Abluminal-Coated Drug-Eluting Bifurcation-Dedicated Stent for the Treatment of Tibioperoneal Bifurcation

Endovascular treatment of below-the-knee region disease is often challenging because of the involvement of arterial bifurcations. Several cases have been reported on the use of coronary stents for the treatment of these patients, but limited evidence is available on the use of dedicated coronary bifurcation devices. We here report the endovascular treatment of a symptomatic bifurcation lesion in below-the-knee region, using a self-expanding Biolimus A9-eluting stent in combination with a "conventional" coronary drug-eluting stent.